Paint can holder



June 10, 1969 l M. KUHANECK, JR 3,

PAINT cm HOLDER Filed Sept. 8, 1967 I I I si 1 25 I I I I /8 I r I I I fI 22 I I I If 22 I I I: L I I} /6 INVENTOR. 1 Mama KwmvzoqJ/a vATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,448,956 PAINT CAN HOLDER MichaelKuhaneck, Jr., 24 Yale Place, Buffalo, N.Y. 14210 Filed Sept. 8, 1967,Ser. No. 666,316 Int. Cl. B44d 3/14 US. Cl. 248-210 1 Claim ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A paint can holder comprising two sheet metal strapmembers which are rigidly attached to each other by welding or the liketo form a unitary paint can holder for rigid association with a ladderby connection with respect to a pair of adjacent rungs of the ladder.

Background of the invention This invention relates to paint can holdersand particularly to devices for supporting a paint can or pail on therungs of a ladder.

In the prior art various devices have been proposed for supporting paintcans on the rungs of a ladder. The best known of these devices permitthe can to swing from the suspending support and the lack of stabilityof these devices is quite objectionable. Other devices aimed at fixingthe paint can more securely with respect to the ladder are mechanicallycomplex and often do not provide a secure support and readyattachability and removability, the latter feature being an importantrequirement for painters.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a unitary rigidframe with no moving parts which attaches to the rungs of a ladder in afacile but secure manner and which is adapted to receive the paint cansecurely but without the intervention of any clamping or securingattachment devices.

The paint can holder of the present invention consists of a circularmetal band proportioned to encircle a paint can and a U-shaped strapmember having its legs welded to diametrically opposed parts of thecircular band whereby the paint can rests upon the connecting lower partof the U-shaped member. One leg of the U-shaped member extends upwardlysubstantially beyond the encircling band and terminates in an invertedU-shaped hook for engagement over a ladder rung. A second invertedU-shaped hook member is fixed to a lower part of said one leg forengagement over the next lower rung of the ladder, the holder comprisinga single rigid unitary frame with no movable parts.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a general side elevationalview of one form of the paint can holder of the present invention shownwith the paint can supported thereby and applied to the rungs of aladder; and

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

Description of the preferred embodiment In the drawing, the referencenumeral designates a conventional paint can and the numerals 11 and 12desig- 'ice nate successive rungs of a ladder 13. The paint can holderis designated generally by the reference numeral 14 and includes acircularly formed metal band 15 and a U- shaped metal strap member 16having front and rear legs 17 and 18 which extend upward adjacent toband 15 at diametrically opposite points thereof.

The legs 17 and 18 of U-shaped member 16 are secured to the circularband 15, preferably by welding. The metal band may be lapped or buttedat its opposed ends and, for convenience, the butted ends of band 15 maybe welded to each other adjacent to the rear leg 18 of U- shaped member16 whereby a single welding will secure the ends of band 15 to eachother and to leg 18. g

It will be noted from FIG. 1 of the drawing that rear leg 18 of U-shapedmember 16 extends upwardly substantially beyond front leg 17 andterminates in an inverted U-shaped formation 19 which hooks over rung 11of ladder 13. It will be noted that the depending terminal portion ofU-shaped formation 19 extends downwardly a substantial distance to avoidaccidental unhooking of the device.

A further inverted U-shaped member 20 is Welded or otherwise permanentlyfixed to the lower portion of leg 18 for engagement of the next lowerrung 12 of ladder 13.

It will be noted that the paint can holder thus far described comprisesa rigid unitary structure with no moving parts and this structure iscomplete in and of itself for the intended purpose. As a convenience inhandling the device a bail 21 may be provided as shown, bail 21 havingits ends pivotally engaged with bosses 22 formed at diametricallyopposed points of band 15.

A pin 24 projects from the upper portion of leg 18 as shown in FIG. 1 sothat a paint brush may be convem'ently suspended therefrom as indicatedat 25.

While a single complete embodiment of the principles of the presentinvention is disclosed herein by way of example, it is to be understoodthat the scope of the invention is not limited to such embodiment.

I claim:

1. A paint can holder for connection with the rungs of a ladder, saidholder comprising band means adapted to encircle a paint can, a U-shapedstrap member having its opposite legs fixed to diametrically oppositepoints on said band means whereby the bottom of the can rests upon thelower medial portion of the U-shaped strap member, one leg of saidU-shaped member extending upwardly substantially beyond said band meansand terminating in an inverted U formation for engagement over a rung ofa ladder, and an inverted U member fixed to a lower portion of said oneleg in vertical alignment with said inverted U formation for engagementover an underlying rung of such ladder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,686,032 8/1954 Thorson 2482112,735,641 2/1956 Joecks 2482l0 3,312,441 4/1967 Molenda 248-210 ROY D.FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

I. FRANKLIN FOSS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

